The Director of Industrial Relations is charged with responsibility for labor management, national negotiations, mechanization, safety and health for all divisions of the union, and the administration of the collective bargaining agreement.

There’s more to being a progressive union than achieving and enforcing a contract — and that’s where the Human Relations Department comes in. Our programs and benefits inspire members to participate in the union and give them a sense of inclusion, contribution, and ownership.

The Maintenance Craft is a diverse and complex division of the APWU. In addition to the three national officers who work at the union's headquarters in Washington, DC, representation is provided by nine Maintenance National Business Agents (NBAs) and three all-craft NBAs.

The Motor Vehicle Craft is composed of APWU members who transport mail and maintain postal vehicles, and includes MVS Clerks, who work in Vehicle Maintenance Facilities and in Transportation Departments in mail processing plants.

The Support Services Division represents APWU bargaining unit members at Information Technology/ Accounting Service Centers, Operating Services facilities, Mail Equipment Shops and Material Distribution Centers, as well as professional nurses employed by the Postal Service. The Division also includes APWU-represented workers who are employed in the private sector, including mail haul drivers and Mail Transport Equipment Service Center employees.

The Northeast Regional Coordinator is responsible for union activity in parts of New York and New Jersey, and Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The Western Region Coordinator is responsible for the union's activities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and American Samoa, Guam and Saipan.

The Deaf/Hard of Hearing Task Force is a forum for APWU members to address their unique problems and concerns in the workplace, union, and society. Established in 1988 by an amendment to the APWU National Constitution, its goals include: better communication, better representation; better training, a better workplace, a better union, and building friendship.

APWU POWER (Post Office Women for Equal Rights) is the women’s committee within the American Postal Workers Union. It unites women, with their special concerns, yet works within the framework of the national APWU organization.

The APWU National Postal Press Association (PPA) provides APWU communicators with a wide range of assistance, information, and educational programs concerning the publication of union newsletters and media.

Latest News

09/26/2017 - In preparation for the 2017 All-Craft Conference, the APWU has requested an extension for all grievance time limit deadlines, for all levels. In response, the Postal Service has issued, “a one-week moratorium on grievance time limits at the local, regional and national level.” The extension period is effective from Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, through Oct. 6, 2017, to coincide with All-Craft activities.

09/26/2017 - The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) had their 19th Biennial Convention in Detroit, Michigan from Sept. 6-9. Over 400 union delegates from across the country attended, representing 27 national unions. CLUW is a national women’s organization within the labor movement. Its goals are to empower women in the workplace, advance women in their unions and promote policies that support women and working families.

09/19/2017 - This week, the U.S. Senate is working on their newest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Graham-Cassidy bill, a last-ditch effort to repeal the ACA, is gaining steam, and Senators are hoping to bring it to a vote by September 30. This bill, like other repeal attempts, is riddled with catastrophic measures...

09/15/2017 - Recovery had only just begun from Hurricane Harvey when Hurricane Irma delivered a second punch, leaving in its trail devastation that affects postal workers in the Caribbean, Florida and many parts of the south. It will be a long road to recovery for her victims.

09/12/2017 - Following an overwhelming 429-129 ratification vote on Aug. 23, the new Information Technology and Accounting Services Centers (IT/AS) Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the United States Postal Service was signed by APWU President Mark Dimondstein and USPS Vice President of Labor Relations Douglas Tulino.

09/12/2017 - Recently, APWU members employed by Salmon Companies voted to ratify a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the company. Salmon Companies is the largest ground transportation supplier to the United States Postal Service (USPS). Truck drivers for the private-sector company are part of the Support Services Division. The contract covers locals from Dallas, TX; Shreveport, LA; Little Rock, AR and Memphis, TN. The new CBA was ratified by over 75% of voting members.

09/01/2017 - (This article first appeared in the Sept-Oct 2017 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine)

By Industrial Relations Director Vance Zimmerman

Although it seems like we just finalized our current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), time is rapidly approaching for the next round of negotiations to begin. Your National Officers and the Industrial Relations Department have already begun planning and preparing for 2018 contract negotiations.